Twitch streamer Hasan Piker publicly praised Cea Weaver, a top aide to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, after comments Weaver made about government seizure of property and impoverishing the White middle class were highlighted by comedian Bill Maher.
Piker, who interrupted Maher’s critique of Mamdani’s policies on his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher, called Weaver’s remarks “beast mode” and expressed admiration for her stance. “I love her so much,” Piker said during the segment. “One of the things I love about Zohran is that the people surrounding him are oftentimes so much cooler than he is.”
Weaver, who serves as director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, previously stated in a 2021 interview with The Real News Network that she hoped policies would “impoverish the White middle class” to address systemic inequities. She also argued that opposition to government seizure of property would undermine progressive governance. “If you don’t believe in the government’s sacred right to seize property, it’s over,” she said in the interview.
Maher referenced Weaver’s comments during his show, questioning the feasibility of such rhetoric in mainstream political discourse. “You know you’re supposed to scare people into voting for you, right?” Maher quipped, prompting Piker’s response.
Mamdani’s office has not directly addressed Weaver’s remarks, and the mayor has not publicly commented on Piker’s endorsement. Weaver’s background includes activism in housing policy, and she previously worked with the Democratic Socialists of America. Her appointment by Mamdani has drawn criticism from opponents, including former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who called her comments evidence of “extreme privilege and total detachment from reality.”
Piker, who has faced past controversy for remarks about the September 11 attacks, has been a vocal supporter of Mamdani’s policies. In 2019, Piker stated that America “deserved” the 9/11 attacks, a comment he has since defended as criticism of U.S. foreign policy. His recent praise for Weaver’s remarks has reignited scrutiny of his political rhetoric.
The exchange between Piker and Maher occurred amid broader debates over socialist policies in the U.S., with Mamdani’s administration facing both praise and criticism for its progressive agenda. Weaver’s comments have become a focal point in discussions about wealth redistribution and racial equity in housing policy.